Learn About the Park

Big Hole National Battlefield has a wealth of things for you to learn about. Interested in bringing your school to the park for a field trip? Explore the park and it resources from your screen by clicking on the links below to learn more.

News

The National Park Service makes every effort to keep the public informed about news, special and recurring events, projects, and accomplishments which occur within and around the units of the agency.

Photos & Multimedia

Big Hole is an immense high mountain valley and this park and its story is just a small part of what the Big Hole is all about. View short videos to learn more about nature at the park.

History & Culture

The Big Hole National Battlefield is the location of the battle that took place on August 9th and 10th during the Flight of 1877. On the morning of August 9, 1877, U.S. troops surprised the nımí·pu· (Nez Perce) killing 60 to 90 nımí·pu· men, women, and children.

Nature

The people associated with this park and the events that took place on the Big Hole Battlefield are inextricably tied to the natural resources in the area; it is impossible to separate them.

Science & Research

Every summer scientist descend on Big Hole National Battlefield to learn more about our unique plant species and other fascinating aspects of the park. To learn more about science and Big Hole please visit the Upper Columbia Basin Network Inventory and Monitoring page.

Education

Group reservations are required for schools and groups to visit the park. Please download and fill out the attached form and e-mail or mail it back to the park to ensure that your school gets the most out of your visit to the park.

Kids & Youth

Big Hole offers kids a way to make your trip to the park more meaningful and fun. From learning how to put up a tipi dwelling at the Visitor Center in the summer months to becoming a Junior Ranger, Big Hole has a lot to offer the young and the young at heart.

Management

Big Hole National Battlefield is a unique unit in the National Park Service. This park is one of thirty-eight sites that is part of Nez Perce National Historical Park. Unlike other sites that have a contiguous block of land, Nez Perce National Historical Park stretches across Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Montana. Of the park's thirty-eight sites, the National Park Service owns nine and each one offers its own set of challenges and opportunities.